Here's the cover of the first one:
Published and reprinted in 1979 by Batsford. ISBN 0 7134 1005 1
Here's the 'publisher's blurb'.
Stitches have become an international language. They have been handed down from generation to generation, family by family, the repertoire being added to by travellers returning from all parts of the world. New stitches continue to be invented and these pages contain a number of new ones worked out by Constance Howard who has been asked by so many of her students to prepare such a book so that they, and a much wider audience, may be able to enjoy further experiments on their own. The idea of this book therefore is to show some of the enormous scope of stitches, their versatility, the fascinating textures and patterns obtainable with them, and the variety that is possible in working a stitch in different threads, changing its scale and spacing, working carefully, working freely, combining stitches to make new ones or altering the angle of the stitch.
and for Elizabeth, here's a double page spread on buttonhole stitch:
(click on photo for bigger image)
I had never seen anything like this before!
Here's a picture of the cover of the other book I have:
It's another Batsford book published in 1976. ISBN 0 7134 3125 3
Here's a list of the contents:
Because the book was published in the 70's, most of the illustrations were in black and white with a few colour plates. Here are a couple of double page spreads to whet YOUR appetite!
(click on photos for bigger image)
When I bought these books in the late 70s early 80s I had never seen work like this before - it was a relevation!
To my mind, Constance Howard was a major influence in contemporary creative embroidery. She fits in with Sharon's TIF challenge in that many, many people admire her work, both in execution and in teaching, and she had green hair!
There is nice tribute to Constance Howard on the Embroiderer's Guild site here
**Update**
a link to two pieces of work by Constance Howard at Embroidery
a link to 'The Country Wife' at the National Needlework Archive
and a close-up of 'The Country Wife' at Embroidery
4 comments:
Oh the books i got rid of, because i thought a. i knew it all and b. they were too "dated"----stoopid with a capital 9 :} Had some of hers too!
aren't they both wonderful books. I found mine at a second hand book shop some time back poked in a corner covered with dust. What a find. The oldies may not have the pretty pictures but the information is so valuable. Too many project and candy books coming out now - Dale
Thank you! thank you for sharing.
These are really awesome.i also feel attracted to the concept of honoring the heroes and role models and Constance Howard was surely both.
neki desu
I am most fortunate in that I had a week long workshop about color with Constance back in the 70's. She autographed my copy of her book.
She and a number of us stayed off the campus where the workshop took place. One day while she and I were walking back, a carload of young punks leaned out and hollered, "Hey, lady, we like your hair!" This was in northern Wisconsin.
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